Grammar Grappler #21: Are there really “riches in niches”?

Is it “nitch”?

Or is it “neesh”?

How do we pronounce niche?

Scroll for the answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: Both are acceptable pronunciations, and the preferred pronunciation—the one listed first in the dictionary—is “nitch.” So, I guess there really are riches in niches.

As a brief background, a niche is an activity that is uniquely suitable for someone. It comes from the French word niche, which is correctly pronounced “neesh.” However, with time, we’ve Americanized the pronunciation to “nitch.”

And on top of everything, now there’s a third acceptable pronunciation: “nish.” Ultimately, no matter how you say it, you’re always going to be correct.

 

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